A Japan-South Korea cultural exchange festival is taking place in Tokyo for the first time in four years.

The event, aimed at showcasing the two countries' cultures and deepening exchanges, used to be held every year in Tokyo and Seoul. But it has taken place online in recent years due to the pandemic.

The opening ceremony on Saturday for the two-day festival was held at Tokyo's Komazawa Olympic Park, attended by South Korean Ambassador to Japan Yun Duk-min.

He said he hopes the first "real" event in four years, also coinciding with a rapid improvement in bilateral relations, will provide a venue for exchanges between the countries' people.

Spectators cheered and applauded as a taekwondo performer jumped high, kicked and broke a wooden plate.

Korean dishes well known in Japan were sold at the venue, including chijimi pancakes and grilled pork belly, called samgyeopsal.

A woman who came with her daughter said experiencing and deepening her understanding of Korean culture was fun, and that the improving relations between the countries is good, as they are near to each other.